Wellness
Here’s what it’s like to take the plunge.
(Ba dum tss.)
We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.
When youre immersed in extra cold water, your entire body goes intofight-or-flight mode.
Your organs and your brain are supplied with fresh nutrients and oxygen.
When this happens, you feel a sense of calm.
In other words: Youre at least getting a long list of benefits when you brave an ice bath.
The Ice Barrel
The Ice Barrel is a barrel (of course).
It also comes with a step stool, a lid, and a cover.
I chose the corner of my backyard that seemed the most hidden from my neighbors.
Filling it with water was easy; I just used a hose.
Like, at least 40 pounds.
Once the water is chilled, it’s time to take the plunge.
I found the included step stool to be helpful since Im very short.
The barrel is made of durable recycled non-toxic plastic, which provides insulation.
After several minutes, I finally went all the way in.
The next five minutes were… something.
As you may have inferred, taking an ice bath isn’t the fun part of cold therapy.
The fun part of cold therapy is after it’s done; I felt euphoric and accomplished and energized.
Despite that, my second time in the barrel was more challenging.
Before, I had only imagined how uncomfortable it was to sit in a barrel filled with ice.
Knowing how much it actually sucked meant I had to really psych myself up for the next time.
But I did it.
And then I did it again.
Do I think it will replace my Prozac?
No I still need that store-bought serotonin.
The Verdict
At $1,200, the Ice Barrel is definitely costly.
There are less expensive ways to take an ice bath, including plenty of DIY options.
Otherwise, maybe see if cold showers do the trick for you.
Studies referenced:
Lateef, F. (2010).
Scand J Clin Lab Invest.
PMID: 18382932 DOI: 10.1080/00365510701516350
Shevchuk, N. (2008).
Adapted cold shower as a potential treatment for depression.
Med Hypotheses.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17993252/
This article was originally published onSep.
